There are many aspects of the performing arts. Sure, there is the typical Broadway musical or play, but there are many other types of performances. Dinner theater is one of those genres, and one that the Performing Arts Office oversees.
PAO is hosting its 24th dinner theater, “Dead Men Tell No Tales.” They have hosted an immersive show every year, even during COVID.
This year, the play is written by Boston playwright Rick Park, who has been very active in adding and changing things as the cast reveals different skills and talents. Kathy Maloney, PAO director, shared that PAO typically repeats shows once every five to six years, but this year they are starting anew. They collaborated with Park, so they developed characters that could be played by anyone and the casting staff can make those decisions.
Maloney originally came to Suffolk to participate in the first round of dinner theater as an assistant stage manager. Ever since then, she has taken over dinner theater and PAO full time.
The office has a strong tradition of people staying for a long time, so when they have people who want to stay but can’t commit fully, they switch it around and work accordingly. The directors also work hard to make sure it feels like a family, and that they honor their time so they can have the best show while not being burnt out.
Maloney shared that one of her favorite aspects of dinner theater is watching the students come together and discover things they could never do. They’ve had numerous people who’ve never performed before and discovered they like theater, eventually leading to becoming a theater major.
“The bonding they have in the first two months of school creates friendships that last well throughout their four years and in their adulthood. People come back well after graduation to watch, as they enjoyed it so much,” said Maloney.
Actors expressed their grace during a rehearsal, saying that the people and the environment made the process worth it. All of the cast and crew would not stop laughing and making jokes during rehearsal, making it seem like they genuinely enjoyed their time there.
Will Shaw, a Suffolk freshman who plays Simon Teapot-Simpleton, shared that one of the things he enjoys about the show is the unorthodoxness of it, like the ability to break the fourth wall and talk to the audience. He enjoys how he can interact with the audience instead of acting in front of them.
However, freshman Natalia Pozzi, who plays Molly, found that interacting with the audience and constantly improvising is her challenge. Freshman Matt Townsend, who plays Big Beard, shared that the challenge he found was the lack of a consistent rehearsal space and how they have to respace everything as they relax into the new environment.
Senior Lindsey Salek, who was in last year’s murder mystery show, is now the student choreographer and proclaimed Maloney’s emotional support. She shared that her favorite memory was when she and another cast member were reading the script at the table read and absolutely losing it. She shared that she struggles with time management and teaching choreography because of the different skill sets of the cast members.
Salek also said that it is nice to see new faces, as well as returning friends. Salek believes it is 100% the most unique show on campus. She shared that the script can be anything, but it really is just 12 people being silly, and she wishes that more people came to enjoy the show.
“Kathy is the heart and soul of the dinner theater and the performing arts office. She does it by herself and makes it so much fun. She is a phenomenal director. She is honestly the sole reason why so many people and myself return every year,” said Salek.
The cast of the dinner theater is incredibly passionate about their performance this year. Most of whom are freshmen, including Shaw, Pozzi, Townsend, Quentin Boyd, Julia Groover, Janelle Casanova-DeJesus and Geoffrey Levy.
They also have a strong technical side, including Salek and sophomore Ainsley Fredrichs, as well as so many others who are also involved.
“Dead Men Tell No Tales” takes place Oct. 23, 24 and 25. It is recommended to arrive by 6:45 p.m. to be seated for the 7 p.m. show. Tickets can be reserved for students with a meal plan or for $10 a ticket, with friends and family being $15.
Ram card and cash are accepted only at the PAO office. The meal includes three courses and can be altered according to any dietary needs. PAO asks attendees to specify if there are multiple people in a party, and parties larger than eight can be split across multiple tables. “Dead Man Tells No Tales” will take place in Sargent Hall’s Keches Room.
